The Canadian Investment Awards is Proud to Present the 2007 Winners!

Transcription

1 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The Canadian Investment Awards is Proud to Present the 2007 Winners! Celebrating excellence in the Investment industry TORONTO, ON. November 29, The Canadian Investment Awards, Canada s premier awards program, recognizing excellence in the Financial Services industry, is proud to present this year s winners of the 2007 Canadian Investment Awards. The awards were presented earlier this evening at the annual Gala held at the Direct Energy Centre. These awards showcase excellence in the investment industry and are determined through a rigorous, audited process. I personally want to extend my congratulations to all of the 2007 winners. Every year highlights extraordinary products, initiatives and leaders within the Canadian Financial Services industry, said Sabine Steinbrecher, CIA President and Founder of the Canadian Investment Awards. This year was no exception; with a record number of entries into our judged awards and another sold out Gala. This industry has proven itself committed to providing advisor and investor education, while developing products that meet the needs of an ever-changing marketplace. Among some of the most anticipated award winners are: Gerald Cooper-Key of Mawer Investment Management Ltd. winner of the Morningstar Fund Manager of the Year This award honours the Canadian mutual fund manager who has produced the best performance over the past year but has also been an extraordinary long term manager. Blake Goldring of AGF Funds Inc. winner of Person of Influence of the Year Qualifying candidates were chosen from any area of financial services in Canada including fund management, banking, distribution, media, analysts and suppliers. It is presented to an individual who has proven superior performance and an outstanding contribution to the financial community during the previous 12 months. 1

2 CI Investments Inc. winner of the CGI Inc Analysts' Choice Investment Fund Company of the Year The award is given to a company that excels in 9 key areas such as performance, management, breadth of core fund category representation, community investment, service to industry, investor and advisor education, volatility/risk, fund governance and communication to unit holders. Dynamic Funds was winner of the Advisors' Choice Investment Fund Company of the Year Winners are chosen by a closed survey where Canadian Advisor s cast their vote for their favourite fund company. While voting, they judge based on quality and range of products, performance, MER, service, education, community investment and management. This year marked the introduction of a new award, the Advisor Education Award, sponsored by Learning Library Inc. This award recognized a commitment to an exceptional educational initiative aimed at advisors. The inaugural winner was awarded to PlanPlus Inc. & Wealth Enhancement Academy for demonstrating their dedication to educational leadership and excellence in the advisor community. The fund award process is very rigorous. Independent juries review performance with special attention to minimum three-year performance history to support a longer-term perspective. Strict attention is paid to quantitative performance as well as various measures of risk and the fund s diversification benefits. The focus is not just quantitative alone; juries also weigh qualitative factors such as management quality, availability and fee structure. The Morningstar team spearheaded the process to research the data and create eligible fund lists for the analysts to review. Analysts are then responsible for reviewing multiple perspectives within a sound analytical framework and choose their top three choices. Results go back to Morningstar to audit results and determine the finalists and winner in each category, through a point system. The 2007 Canadian Investment Award Winners are listed below: Canadian Dividend & Income Equity Fund Winner: Standard Life Canadian Dividend Growth, Standard Life Mutual Funds Ltd. Finalist: TD Dividend Growth, TD Mutual Funds Finalist: Stone & Co Dividend Growth, Stone & Co. Limited Canadian Small/Mid Cap Equity Fund (> 50% Canada) Winner: Ethical Special Equity / IA Clarington Canadian Small Cap, Ethical Funds Inc. / IA Clarington Investments. Finalist: BMO Special Equity, BMO Investments Inc. Finalist: AGF Canadian Small Cap, AGF Funds Inc. Canadian Equity Fund (> 50% Canada) Winner: Fidelity True North, Fidelity Investments Canada Limited Finalist: Leith Wheeler Canadian Equity, Leith Wheeler Investment Counsel Ltd. Finalist: Mawer Canadian Equity, Mawer Investment Management Ltd. Canadian Balanced Fund Winner: CI Signature Canadian Balanced, CI Investments Inc. Finalist: Fidelity Canadian Balanced, Fidelity Investments Canada Limited Finalist: CI Harbour Growth & Income, CI Investments Inc. US Small/Mid Cap Equity Fund Winner: TD US Mid-Cap Growth, TD Mutual Funds Finalist: Trimark US Small Companies Class, AIM Trimark Investments Finalist: RBC US Mid-Cap Equity, RBC Asset Management Inc. 2

3 Global Fixed Income Fund Winner: Templeton Global Bond, Franklin Templeton Investments Corp. Finalist: RBC Global Bond, RBC Asset Management Inc. Finalist: GGOF Global Bond Classic, Guardian Group of Funds Ltd. Global Small/MidCap Equity Fund Winner: IA Clarington Global Small Cap, IA Clarington Investments Inc. Finalist: CI Global Small Companies, CI Investments Inc. Finalist: GGOF Global Small Cap, Guardian Group of Funds Ltd. Global Equity Fund Winner: Trimark Fund, AIM Trimark Investments Finalist: Mutual Discovery, Franklin Templeton Investments Corp. Finalist: Dynamic Global Value, Dynamic Funds Canadian Fixed Income Fund Winner: Phillips, Hager & North Total Return Bond, Phillips, Hager & North Investment Management Ltd. Finalist: Beutel Goodman Income, Beutel Goodman Managed Funds Inc. Finalist: Phillips, Hager & North Short Term Bond & Mortgage, Phillips, Hager & North Investment Management Ltd. Canadian Income Trust Fund Winner: Renaissance Canadian Monthly Income, CIBC Securities Inc. Finalist: Saxon High Income, Saxon Funds Management Limited Finalist: Sentry Select Canadian Income, Sentry Select Capital Corp. Emerging Markets Equity Fund Winner: AGF Emerging Markets, AGF Funds Inc. Finalist: TD Emerging Markets, TD Mutual Funds Finalist: Brandes Emerging Markets Equity, Brandes Investment Partners & Co. Global Balanced Fund Winner: McLean Budden Balanced Growth, McLean Budden Limited Finalist: Trimark Global Balanced, AIM Trimark Investments Finalist: Phillips, Hager & North Balanced, Phillips, Hager & North Investment Management Ltd. High Yield Fixed Income Fund Winner: Phillips, Hager & North High Yield Bond, Phillips, Hager & North Investment Management Ltd. Finalist: Renaissance Canadian High Yield Bond, CIBC Securities Inc. Finalist: Dynamic High Yield Bond, Dynamic Funds Asian Equity Fund Winner: Fidelity Far East, Fidelity Investments Canada Limited Finalist: Dynamic Far East Value, Dynamic Funds Finalist: Excel China, Excel Funds Management Inc. Finalist: Franklin Japan Corporate Class, Franklin Templeton Investments Corp. International Equity Fund Winner: Mawer World Investment, Mawer Investment Management Ltd. Finalist: AIM International Growth, AIM Trimark Investments Finalist: AGF International Stock, AGF Funds Inc.

4 European Equity Fund Winner: AGF European Equity, AGF Funds Inc. Finalist: Trimark Europlus, AIM Trimark Investments Finalist: Investors European Mid-Cap Equity, Investors Group Inc. US Equity Fund Winner: Dynamic Power American Growth, Dynamic Funds Finalist: Fidelity American Disciplined Equity, Fidelity Investments Canada Limited Finalist: RBC O'Shaughnessy US Value, RBC Asset Management Inc. Precious Metals Equity Fund Winner: AGF Precious Metals, AGF Funds Inc. Finalist: Mackenzie Universal World Precious Metals, Mackenzie Financial Corporation Finalist: Sentry Select Precious Metals Growth, Sentry Select Capital Corp. Science and Technology Equity Fund Winner: GGOF Global Technology Classic, Guardian Group of Funds Ltd. Finalist: TD Entertainment & Communications, TD Mutual Funds Finalist: Fidelity Focus Telecommunications, Fidelity Investments Canada Limited Healthcare Equity Fund Winner: Renaissance Global Health Care, CIBC Securities Inc. Finalist: TD Health Sciences, TD Mutual Funds Finalist: CI Global Health Sciences, CI Investments Inc. Natural Resources Equity Fund Winner: RBC Global Resources, RBC Asset Management Inc. Finalist: Mackenzie Universal World Resource, Mackenzie Financial Corporation Finalist: Mackenzie Universal Canadian Resource, Mackenzie Financial Corporation Socially Responsible Investment Fund Winner: Ethical Special Equity, Ethical Funds Inc. Finalist: Meritas International Equity, Meritas Mutual Funds Opportunistic Strategy Hedge Fund Winner: Dynamic Power Hedge Fund, Dynamic Funds Finalist: BluMont Hirsch Performance Fund, BluMont Capital Multi Strategy Hedge Fund Winner: Salida Multi Strategy Hedge Fund, Salida Capital Corporation Finalist: Vertex Fund, Vertex One Asset Management Inc. Canadian Equity Pooled Fund Winner: Mawer Canadian Equity Pooled, Mawer Investment Management Ltd. Finalist: Highstreet Canadian Equity Fund, Highstreet Asset Management Inc. Finalist: Greystone Canadian Equity, Greystone Managed Investments Inc. Canadian Income Pooled Fund Winner: PH&N Bond Fund, Phillips, Hager & North Investment Management Ltd. Finalist: Beutel Goodman Income Fund, Beutel Goodman Managed Funds Inc. Finalist: FGP Bond Fund, Foyston, Gordon & Payne Inc.

5 Canadian Small Cap Pooled Fund Winner: Standard Life Canadian Small-Cap Equity Fund, Standard Life Canada Finalist: Legg Mason Batterymarch Canadian Small Cap Fund, Legg Mason Canada Inc. Finalist: Acuity Pooled Canadian Small Cap Fund, Acuity Funds Ltd. Global Equity Pooled Fund Winner: Trimark Fund, AIM Trimark Investments Finalist: Legg Mason Brandywine International Equity Fund, Legg Mason Canada Inc. Finalist: Templeton Global Equity Trust, Franklin Templeton Investments Corp. Canadian Balanced Pooled Fund Winner: Fidelity Canadian Balanced, Fidelity Investments Canada Limited Finalist: BonaVista Balanced, BonaVista Asset Management Ltd. Finalist: Greystone Balanced, Greystone Managed Investments Inc. Global Balanced Pooled Fund Winner: PH&N Balanced Pension Trust, Phillips, Hager & North Investment Management Ltd. Finalist: Mawer Canadian Balanced Pooled, Mawer Investment Management Ltd. Finalist: MB Balanced Growth Fund, McLean Budden Limited US Equity Pooled Fund Winner: CI American Value, CI Investments Inc. Finalist: McLean Budden American Equity, McLean Budden Limited Finalist: Beutel Goodman American Equity Fund, Beutel Goodman Managed Funds Inc. International Equity Pooled Fund Winner: Mawer World Investment, Mawer Investment Management Ltd. Finalist: GE Asset Management International Equity, GE Asset Management Canada Finalist: Desjardins Bernstein International Equity Value Fund, Desjardins Financial Security Canadian Investment Marketing Award Winner: "Value of Commitment", AIC Limited Winner: "Launch of IncomePlus", Manulife Investments Winner: "Putting Criterion on the Map", VenGrowth Asset Management / Criterion Investments Winner: "The Bag Lady Program", Blackmont Capital Inc. Analysts' Choice Investment Fund Company of the Year Winner: CI Investments Inc. Finalist: Phillips, Hager & North Investment Management Ltd. Finalist: Dynamic Funds Investor Education Award Winner: "Socially Responsible Investing", Mackenzie Financial Corporation Finalist: "The Retirement Risk Zone", Manulife Investments Advisor Education Award Winner: "Advice Transition Program", PlanPlus Inc. & Wealth Enhancement Academy Finalist: "Insights", Dynamic Funds Finalist: "Certified Portfolio Engineer Program", Dundee Wealth Inc. (Dundee Wealth Management Division) Career Achievement Award Winner: Claude Lamoureux, Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan

6 Person of Influence of the Year Award Winner: Blake Goldring, AGF Funds Inc. Best Use of Technology Award Winner: The Investment Platform, Scotia Securities Inc. Finalist: C3 Mutual Fund System, TD Bank Financial Group Wealth Management Finalist: IPC Connect, Investment Planning Counsel Inc. Best New Initiative Award Winner: Manulife GIF Select featuring IncomePlus, Manulife Financial Finalist: The Next Generation Corporate Class Structure, NexGen Financial Limited Partnership Finalist: RBC Funds in Series D, RBC Asset Management Advisors' Choice Investment Fund Company of the Year Winner: Dynamic Funds Finalist: CI Investments Inc. Finalist: AGF Funds Inc. Morningstar Fund Manager of the Year Winner: Gerald Cooper-Key, Mawer Investment Management Ltd Corporate Citizenship Award Winner: Investors Group We are continuing the celebration of excellence and innovation with our new green commitment launched last night, this award will be given next year to a leading organization who best accomplishes their green company initiatives, said Steinbrecher. Our goal is to recognize investment institutions and to encourage those who make a difference reducing their footprint. In closing, I want to sincerely thank all of our sponsors and look forward to another exciting year of raising the bar in the Canadian Financial Services industry. We would like everyone to join us next year for the 2008 Canadian Investment Awards to be held on November 27 th, For more information please visit Awards were presented at the 13 th Annual Gala held on November 29 th, 2007 and winners will be posted online November 30 th, Key sponsors and partners: Platinum: CGI / Morningstar Gold: Canadian Business / MoneySense Silver: Fundata Canada Inc. / Informco / Investment Executive / Learning Library Inc. / Satyam Computer Services Ltd. Strategic Partners: CCR Solutions / Imagine Canada / Kaleidoscope Marketing and Communications / Prestige Glass International Inc. / VAULT Solutions / YMCA Investment in Values Partners: Broadridge / Bullfrog Power / Business News Network / CNW Group / Data on the Spot / Elemente Magazine / Investment Fund Institute of Canada / John Wiley & Sons Canada Ltd. / Matrix Search Group / RPM Technologies / Tiffany & Co. / Vincor Canada About the Canadian Investment Awards The Canadian Investment Awards and Gala recognizes leading investment products and firms illustrating an enduring commitment to excellence within the Canadian financial services industry overall. It is the only time each year in Canada, that the industry, investors and advisors come together to select top performers. The event attracts 650 guests annually and represents the year long work of over 30 firms, 40 senior analysts and expert jury members researching and ranking 50 categories and is supported by over 25 principal sponsors.

7 The unusual nature of this collaborative structure provides an unbiased and objective outcome that is completely unique to these awards and to Canada. No other analysis process, nor any other resource, provides this broad industry representation via "collaborative results" and the top performers have become a valuable annual reference guide for Canadian investors and advisors. This is the event of the season celebrating financial service excellence. For more information about the Canadian Investment Awards, and how to purchase your tickets, please visit Media Contacts: Sabine Steinbrecher Canadian Investment Awards Inc. Tel: x [email protected] Kate Taylor Kaleidoscope Marketing and Communications Tel: [email protected]